Book Publishers

Having a book published can be the lifelong goal of many individuals and writers. Many writers will tell you that the manuscript is half the battle, the other half is getting it published. A publisher is a person or organization that can help in mass producing copies of a book that are ready to be sold to the customer.

In the digital era, many may doubt the job of a publisher but they are a vital part of the book industry. A physical book still has a greater chance of out-selling an eBook. For those who go the self-publishing route, while it's true that there are many professional options to choose from, the main advantage of a publisher lies in their access to already-established distributor channels and book promotion activities.

In order to compete on a national or international level the backing of a major publishing house would definitely be an added advantage. Aside from just printing and distributing the book, a publisher can also help with:

• Editing the book to ensure the best possible version is published
• Designing the book to ensure a pleasurable reading experience, this can include the type face, size and spacing of the books text
• Art and image direction. This is particularly useful for books that are illustration-rich.

Some of Australia's top book publishers include HarperCollins, Penguin and Macmillan. However, going to a large publisher may not always be the best strategy since you'll face tougher competition. See Start Locals' list of Australian publishing companies in each city and region.

Things to consider:

Before choosing a publisher, consider the following:

• What are the costs that will be borne by the publisher and the writer
• How will the revenue from the project be divided
• What services will be included in the scope of the publisher
• How will royalties be divided in the long run
• Do they have a history of publishing the type of book you are looking to get printed